It was Spring 2005, that Toby happened into our lives. He was a young cat that belonged to my son. We met Toby during their stay with us through the hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. He was a short hair gray tabby with white mittens, chest and mouth. and a small gray smudge that looked like a crooked mustache and a small round gray patch smack dab in the middle of his chest.. This playful and adorable cat won over our hearts. Months later, Toby came to live with us permanently. He seemed to thrive on the attention we gave him. It was an easy thing to want to love him. Our screened-in porch that overlooked the woods was his favorite place to be, watching and listening to the birds and squirrels in the trees and waterbirds near the pond.
Toby-toes was such an easy going, laid back kind of cat. He was so tolerant of the rambunctiousness of our two young rescued kitties, Cleo and Riley. Sweet Toby was such a unique cat with his own quirky ways He had grown to be a fat, happy feline. Often times, we would find him on the couch reclining back against the cushions like a couch potato. I could swear he would watch TV like this sometimes. It was the cutest thing ever! He would crouch down low, run and hide at the sound of the vacuum cleaner being taken out of the closet. Never will you see a cat as big as he run as fast!! Really hilarious! He loved spending time in our courtyard, chewing on the grass, and chasing lizards through the bushes. Toby was not the most successful lizard hunter, though. Sometimes he would come out of the bushes carrying a twig or piece of bark as if it was his prize lizard kill. Too funny!
Toby was such an affectionate cat. He loved hugs. Often,when you were near him, he would stand up on his hind legs and reach up your leg with his front paws indicating his need for a hug. He would drape himself over your shoulder and rub up against the side of your face with his. Toby would stay there for a considerably long time, purring and very content. What a beautiful connection he made with me! I would find the gray patch on his chest, and rub his Heart Button.
Sadly last April, Toby passed away at the tender age of 5, apparently from a heart condition. We buried him in our back yard of the home we moved into a few weeks earlier. My Sweet Toby-toes, you are missed terribly. Thank you so much for bringing such joy to all of our hearts.
In Loving Memory.
